Holder for hooks and trolleys



Sept. 4, 1951 G. RAMSEY HOLDER FOR HOOKS AND TROLLEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1948 Z7aw/fsejntor Gttorneg Sept. 4, 1951 GQ IIIQAMSEY Z566j 62 HOLDER FOR HOOKS AND TROLLEYS Filed Dec. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Shed 2 Zmnentor Gay Rapt ce y By I I (Ittorneg Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER- FOR HOAOlK S AND. 'EBOLLEYS; Guy Ramsey, Newton, Kans. Application December 4, 1948, Serial. No. 63,517;

around meat-packing plants, wholesale meat.

houses, and other places where.v large pieces, of

meat are stored and. handled to utilize. hooksv which. are suspended from trolleys which move.

over tracks. Each of these hooks is intended to: carry a piece of meat, and it is common practice.

to embed the point. of the hook in. the meatv bypressing the. latter-- thereagainst.

. In. places where. ample manpower is available; only a small amount of inconvenience is experi-. enced with this arrangement because one man may hold the hook immovablewhile. another manpresses' the. meat thereagainst.. It. is. evident. this operation requires the services or more.- than one man. In places where only a single man is avai=l.-. able, serious. diliiculties and. inconveniences are experienced. This isparticularly.truezwhenlarge pieces of meat, such as a quarteroi beef, is. to be placed on a. hook. It is just about all that one man can do.to lift such alargepiece of meat and with nothing to hold the. hook; immovable,

while. the. meatis. being pressed. thereagainst, it is.

.With the foregoing conditions. in. mind, the

present invention has. in view as its foremost objective, the provision of a holding, device that is adapted to. be applied to a track of the-type. indicated, and attached to a hookwhich is: sus-= pended by a trolley riding over thetrack tohold the hook immovable.

In carrying out this ideain a practical embodiment 2 p f fla m l: havin a enerally h p s emp o ed- Qne nd oi th lone lee the L carries means for rigidly clamping the sarne to a track. At the free end of the shorter: leg is clamping. m or r i yas hs a. h ok.

Another somewhat more detailed object of; t

invention, is to, provide in a hook; and trqliey. holder of the character indicated, an overturned I flange at the end of the long leg which deiings a groove adapted to receive the upper edge of a track. A complemental bracket member ad;. justably carried in spaced relation, relat e to said overturned flange to provide gtner gg va which receives thelower edge of the-track. This bracket is mounted onthe holderv by a clampingscrew which may be tightened to. cause the bracket to, securely gripthe trackv 11 Claims- (01. 105-150) In" using a holder of this. type, it is important; that the same be readily positioned over, the, track. Thus, the flanged structure which receives the'track' ordinarily will fitover the latterwith a loose fit.

In view of this condition, a further object is to p o e, r ar sv i s h n e h de e ative to the track to provide a good clampingengagement. This means may take the form of; a screw which is threaded through an opening the holder immediately back of the track and the free end of which engages the track to force the latter against the flanges aforesaid.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a holding device of the typenoted, gripping means for engaging a hook and holding the latter rigidly in position. This means takes the form of a shank which a ses hmr n o ni at e o ShQ T' lead h h l e nd. of this shank is formed as a hook which engages the main hook aforesaid, while the otherend is threaded and carries a, wing nut which may be tightened to cause the hook; on the other end to firmly urge the meat hook against the holder.

A meat hook of the type with which this invention is concerned ordinarily com-prises a long shank having a. bill at its --lower end and an eye: at its upperend from which it is suspended, Thus, due tothe tendency of the center of -gravityof the hook; to assume the; lowermost position, the

shank ordinarily assumes a position inclined with respect to the vertical. 7

Thus, a further object of the invention, is the provision of a hook and trolley holder of -the-- p n a hi h sdesiehed to c mmo a this inolinationoi} the meat hook; This end accomplished by forming the long leg of the qld -r' ih a b n int media the s h eo r.

which'causes'the: lower portion to extend at an angle with respect to. the vertical.

r ou he m e detai ob e ts nd dvantages of the invention such as arise in con-.- nection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a. p c l em d m nt w ll, n; P b come I apparent, and in part be hereinafter statedas the; description: oi the invention proceeds.

The h en onlth e ere, compr s a k and.

trolley holder which consists of an heshaped piece.

of metal having meansat'the: free end of. tha l l forclemp h m to a ack. a d. means at the free end of the short leg for gripe pingly engaging a hool; that is suspended from a trolley man, track.

For a l nd or camp eteunder ahd ne "the. invention, reierencemaybe had to the fol- 3 lowing description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a track with a trolley thereon, and a hook suspended from the trolley held in position by the holder of this invention.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the trolley, hook, and holder with the track shown in section.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the holder per se.

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective of the bracket.

which engages the track.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified arrangement of attaching the support to the track.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken about on the plane represented by the line B6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken normal to the showing of Figure 6 and about on the plane represented by the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts and first more particularly to Figure l, a track is therein illustrated and identified by the reference character H3. It will be understood that the track H3 will be appropriately mounted in a place such as a meat storage house, wherein it will eX- tend into a refrigerator. The particular structure which supports the track 10 is not a part of the present invention. 7

Movable over the track In is a trolley ll having the usual groove 12 which receives the top edge of the track [0 that is designated [3.

It will be further understood that ordinarily, a plurality of the trolleys H will be mounted on a single track It! and that only one is illustrated herein for the purpose of explaining the present invention.

The trolley H has a hub at 14 in which is jour nalled a shaft IS. A hanger I6 takes the form of a long strap or bar of metal having its upper end turned over to provide a bend portion at I! which is spaced above the trolley II and aniend portion I8 that is spaced from themain part of the hanger IS. The shaft l5 extends between this end portion l8 of the hanger and the main body portion l3 as is clearly shown in Figure 2. Thus, the hanger I6 is supported from the trolley ll.

The lower end of the hanger I6 is turned back to provide an end flange at [9 to which is secured an eye or loop20.

A meat hook is referred to in its entirety by the reference character H and comprises a shank 2| which is formed at its lower end with a bill 23 and its upper end with an eye 22 that is linked in with the eye 20, that is, the eyes 20 and 22 are interlocked in the manner of a chain.

It is evident that under normal conditions, the hook H will be suspended in the angular position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. This means that the shank 2| is inclined with respect to the vertical.

A holding device, such as provided by this invention, is referred to in its entirety by the reference character B. The holder B is preferably made from fairly heavy sheet metal and is of the L-shaped form illustrated, providing a long leg 23 and a shortleg 24, the free end of which is formed with an upward extension 25. The holder is preferably a fabricated structure with the several elements joined by welding.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that the upper end of the leg 23 is turned first outwardly and then downwardly to provide a groove at 26 which receives the top edge l3 of the track l0.

Just beneath this overturned structure, the leg 23 is formed with a threaded opening 2"! for a purpose to be later described. With the'groove 26 receiving the top edge l3 of the track H] so that the two are in the, relative positions illustrated in Figure 3, the leg 231s formed with a slot at 28. A bracket which is shown in detail inFigure 4 and which is designated 29 is formed with an opening 30 which aligns with the slot 28. A headed bolt 3| passes through the slot 28 and opening 3:]. As shown in Figure 2, this bolt 3| has a head 32 which engages the rear face of the leg 23. The'shank of the bolt 3| is threaded and carries a lock nut 33 which is formed with a knurled flange 34 to facilitate its tightening by manual operation. Thus, the nut 33 may be tightened to clampthe bracket 29 against the leg 23 of the holder 3. I l

The lower edge of the bracket 29 carries a flange 35 which is formed with a gap at 36 which 're-' ceives the leg 23. The upper edge has an out-- wardly extending flange at 31 which terminates in an upturned flange 38. The flanges 31 and 38 cooperate with the. leg 23'to provide a groove which receives the lower'edge of the track Ill, such as represented at 39. A clamping screw 40 is threaded in the opening 21 and its outer end carries a handle 4! which maybe availed of to rotate this screw. This clamping screw 40' may be tightened to clamp. the track ll) between the leg 23 on one side and the flanges at the groove 26 and 38 on the other.

Intermediate its ends, the leg 23 is formed with a bend represented at 42 to provide a lower portion which takes the same angle of inclination as that assumed by the shank 2| of the hook H.

The end of the short leg'24 isformed with an opening as represented at 43. tension 25 is formed-with a slot 44 to provide a bifurcation presenting arms 45 and '46, each of which is formed with a turned-over end at 41 with the wing nut located on the rear face of the leg 24. The forward end of this clamping screw :48 is formed with a hook retainer 53 which over the shank 2| of the hook Operation Ordinarily, the trolley l I with the hook H sus pended therefrom by a hanger I6 is permitted to ride freely over the track It. When it is desired to hold the hook and trolley immovable, so

that a piece of meat may be pressed against the bill 23 of the hook, the holder B is placed in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As the holder B is first positioned over thei track, there will be a fairly loose fit of the groove 26 relative to the top edge l3 and the flange 38 relative to the bottom edge 39. However, this loo'seness is readily taken up by tightening either or both of the lock nut 33 and clamping screw 43. 1

The hook H is positioned so that the eye 22 is grippingly engaged at the top. by the turned-over flanges of the arms 45 and 46. V In this position,

the eye 20 is received in the slot 44. The hook The upward exretainer 50 is placed "over thershankqzl of the hook H and wing nut 4'4 tightened "to "securely clamp the shank againsttiie outer end or the leg 24. It is "evident that in this position the hack H is held immovable so that a piece of meat maybe a plied to the bill 2 3.

It is evident'that after the "bill of the hook has been embedded in thepiec'e of meat, theholder B may be removedby loosening'the wing nut 40 so as to permit withdrawalof the nanrn of the retainer and either or'both of the look but 33 and clamping screw 40 loosenedto break'thecon nection between the upper end of the leg 23 and track I 0. I

The modification M It will be reco nized that as the meat is pushed onto the hook from the front'thepressure or force that is effective on the holder'is toward the rear. It is th refore believed that certain advantages may be derived from an arrangement in which thelong lee of the hol er overlies the front face of the track rather than the rear face.

Re erring now more particularly to Figures 5, 6 and '7 a modified form'of the invention which is based on this principle will be described. The holder is identified in its entirety by the reference character B and is of the usual L-shaped construction presentipg a long leg and a short leg with an upward extension. The only difference between the holders "B and B is at the free end of the long leg where tne'anehora'g to the track I0 is established.

The long leg of B is designated 5!. Between the ends thereof the leg 5| is formed with a bend corresponding to thebendfl the holder B. Above the bend 52'are theoppdsed bends same 54 which define an inclined part 55 from which extends upwardly a track engaging portion 55.

The latter engages the front face of the track l0 and is bent over to provide a top wall 51. Depending from the top wall 51 is a rear flange 58.

Formed in the flange 58 are a pair of spaced threaded openings 59. Screwed into each opening 59 is an Allen set screw 60' having a rounded nose GI at one end and a hexagonal recess 62 at the other end. These set screws 60 may be adjusted to accommodate a track IU of any thickness within the range in which these tracks are ordinarily made. The distance between the noses BI and the track engaging portion 56 should be adjusted to snugly receive the track Ill.

Formed in the track engaging portion 56 is a threaded opening 62 and screwed thereinto is a clamping screw 63 the inner end of which is adapted to engage the track l0 under pressure to force the latter against the set screw 60, thus establishing a firm clamping engagement between the free end of the leg 5| and the track Ill.

The clamping screw 63 may be provided with an operating member as shown at 64.

While preferred specific embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact mechanisms and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a track, a trolley movably supported on said track, a hook suspended from said trolley, an L-shaped holder having two legs, means on the end of one leg for clampingly engaging said track, and mechanism on the end 6 of the other leg for clampingly engaging said hook,

In combination, a track having an upper edge, a trolley movably supported on said upper edge, a h' n er carried by said trolley, -a hook suspended from said hanger, an L-shaped holder. having a long leg and a short leg, means at the iree'end of said long leg for clampingly engaging said track, and mechanism at the free end 01' said short leg for clampingly engaging said hook.

3. In combination, a track having an upper edge, a trolley movably supported onsaid upper edge, a hanger carried by said trolley, an eye atthe lower end of said hanger, a hook consisting ofa shank with an eye at one end interlocked with the eye on said hanger and a bill at the other end, an L-shaped holder having a long leg and a short legwith an extension at the free end thereof extending normal thereto, means at the free end of said long leg for'clampingly engaging said track, said extension being formed with a slot receiving the eye on said hanger, a turned over flange on said extension engaging the eye on said shank, and mechanism for clampingsai d shafinkto said short leg.

In combination, 'a track having an upper edge, *a trolley movably supported on said upper edge, a hanger carried by said trolley, an eye at the-lower end of said hanger, a hook consisting of a shank with an eye at one end interlocked with the-eye on said hanger and a bill at the other end, an L-shaped holder having a long leg and ash'ort leg with an extension at the free end thereof extending normal thereto, a turned-over flange on the free end of said long'leg and fitting over the upper edge of said track, a flanged bracket engaging the lower end of said track, screw means for adjustably mounting said bracket on said long leg, said extension being formed with a slot receiving the eye on said hanger, a turned-over flange on said extension engaging the eye on said shank, and mechanism for clamping said shank to said short leg.

5. In combination, a track having an upper edge, a trolley movably supported on said upp r edge, a hanger carried by said trolley, an eye at the lower end of said hanger, a hook consisting of a shank with an eye at one end interlocked with the eye on said hanger and a bill at the other end, an L-shaped holder having a long leg and a short leg with an extension at the free end thereof extending normal thereto, means at the free end of said long leg for clampingly engaging said track, said extension being formed with a slot receiving the eye on said hanger, a turnedover flange on said extension engaging the eye on said shank, a clamping screw carried by said short leg and having a hook retainer engaging said shank, and a wing nut on said clamping screw and operable to cause said retainer to clamp said shank against said short leg.

6. In combination, a track having an upper edge, a trolley movably supported on said upper edge, a hanger carried by said trolley, an eye at the lower end of said hanger, a hook consisting of a shank with an eye at one end interlocked with the eye on said hanger and a bill at the other end, an L-shaped holder having a long leg and a short leg with an extension at the free end thereof extending normal thereto, flanged elements carried by said long leg and engaging said track, a clamping screw threadedly mounted in said long leg and having a nose at one end engaging said track and an operating member at the other end, said extension being formed asaegeee with a slot receiving the eye on said hanger, a turned-over flange on said extension engaging the eye on said shank, and mechanism for clamping said shank to said short leg.

' '7. A hook and trolley holder of the character described comprising, in combination, an L- shaped holder presenting two legs, clamping means on one leg for engaging a track, and clamping mechanism on the other leg for grippingly engaging a hook that is supported from said track.

' 8. A hook and trolley holder of the character described comprising, in combination, an L- shaped holder presenting a long leg and a short leg, said long leg having a bend therein defining two parts in angular relation, clamping means on the long leg adjacent to the free end thereof and adapted to engage a track, and clamping mechanism on the short leg adjacent to the free end thereof and adapted to grippingly engage a hook supported from said track.

9. A hookand trolley holder of the character described comprising, in combination, an L- shaped holder presenting a long leg and a short leg with a slotted extension on the free end of said short leg and which extension is substantially parallel to said long leg, said long leg having a bend therein defining two parts in angular relation, clamping means on the long leg adjacent to the free end thereof and adapted to engage a track, clamping mechanism on the short leg adjacent to the free end thereof and adapted to grippingly engage a hook supported from said track, and flanges on the free end of said extension adapted to engage an eye on said hook.

; 10.- In combination, a track having an upper edge, a trolley movably supported on said upper edge, ahanger carried by said trolley, a hook suspended from said hanger, anv L-shaped holder having a long leg and a short leg, means at the free end of said long'leg for clampingly engaging said track, said means comprising a track engaging portion of said holder offset from the main body portion thereof and engaging the front face of said track together with a flange structure at the free end providing a groove receiving the upper edge of said track, and mechanism at the free end of said short leg for clampingly engaging-said hook. Y

lL'A-hOOk and trolley holder of the character described comprising, in combination, an L-shaped holder presenting a long leg and a short leg, said long leg having a bend therein defining two parts in angular relation, clamping means on the long' leg adjacent to the free "en thereof and adapted to engage a track, said means comprising a track engaging portion adapted to overlie the front face of a track and having structure at the end thereof providing a groove for receiving the upper edge of track, and clamping mechanism on the short leg adjacent to the free end thereof and adapted to grippingly engage a hook supported from said track;

GUY RAMSEY;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: l

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1,778,332 Meyer Oct. 14, 1930 

